Can you be forced to be charge nurse?

JadedCPN, BSN, RN · Jan 30, 2017

I had been a nurse for less than a year, it was a holiday weekend where it was just myself and another nurse who had about the same experience with me and our charge that day got in a car accident and couldn't come in. I didn't even know how to work the charge pager :down:

My guess would be that a lot of us on this forum were thrown into charge nurse position with similar stories of little experience and even less training. Find out what about it makes you uncomfortable, what you would need (training/shadowing/etc) to make you feel more comfortable about it, and go from there.

AliNajaCat · Jan 30, 2017

My first job was in a 17-bed PACU. They hired me (new BSN), a new AD grad, and a diploma grad from their own hospital school of nursing at the same time. I was the one they started orienting to evening charge within 5 months. My regular charge nurse worked staff and kept an eye in me, and was there for a resource when I have a decision to make I wasn't sure about. I learned a tremendous amount and used that experience when I went on to my next job (we moved).

Anxiety makes your eyes focus more clearly, your muscles more effective, your liver pump out extra glucagon to make your brain more alert. Have some fun with it. You can do it.

Cafelattee · Jan 30, 2017

ideally a charge nurse has experience and all that LOL but when I started in the hospital they utilized a lot more LPN so if I was the only RN scheduled then you were charge didnt' matter how much experience. I was very dang lucky my very expreince (20 year) plus LPN where willing to guide me. Yeah I had to do central lines pushes/hang blood but they pretty much could do what we could with vents and stuff. NOt like today in my state. I was no way ready to run things with only 6 months of experience. They taught me a lot.

NanaPoo · Jan 30, 2017

I was charge after 6 months as a new RN on my very first med-surg job. There was such high turnover that it wasn't long before you had seniority on some shifts or some older nurses who had years on the job just flat out refused to be charge.

It wasn't easy but it was a learning experience.

Been there,done that, ASN, RN · Jan 30, 2017

Doubt you can "refuse". It falls into your job description of " other duties as assigned". I refused to take charge one time, I would not take charge , with a full assignment. Will you have your OWN patients in addition to the charge duty?

If not, charge can be a step up for you. What, exactly are you afraid of?

amzyRN · Jan 30, 2017

Ugh, I hated when I had to be in charge. I don't think it's fair to do to people, but it might be part of the expectation of your role on the unit. When I've done charge it was relief charge because most places have a dedicated charge nurse position, but someone needs to be able to step in when they aren't available.

I think the anxiety comes from not enough training. I think facilities should offer more training.

chacha82, ADN, BSN · Jan 30, 2017

I would ask (I know it's after the fact) but see if they'll let you do a shadow shift with a charge nurse before you do it again. Or ask for a quick orientation. If they say no, oh well, but at least you tried to get extra training. And if you want to stay at the job, I wouldn't plan on refusing charge in the future. You don't have to ALWAYS be charge, but you've been there for a year and most hospitals find that reasonable enough time before doing charge.

Ruby Vee, BSN · Jan 30, 2017

yourfuturern22 said:
Hi guys! I've been a nurse for 1 year and 2 months. My charge nurse just recently came to me and told me that I would be charge nurse tonight and I would be the charge nurse when 2 of our other relief charge nurses leave in just 2-3 months. I was a nervours reck for that first night, we had 7 admissions and 2 unplanned transfers to special care, which left me feeling horrible and with a knot in my stomach the whole night. Btw. I work on an acute care peds unit. This charge nurse position is a responsibility that I do not want right now and neither do I feel that I have enough experience for. As I told u before 2 of the older nurses are leaving and they've only been nurses for 2-3 years. This leaves our night shift team with 10 new nurses that have been doing nurses for less than 1 year and 1 senior nurse that's part time with 20+ years experience. I'm overwhelmed and feel like all of this is unsafe. Can I refuse charge nurse position, do I have a choice? Is this unsafe nursing practice? If you were in my position would u start looking for jobs immediately. (Btw this is what I'm doing). All advice appreciated!!!

Have you reviewed your job description? Does it say anything about being charge? There are some facilities that hire new nurses into a "Nurse 1" position that does not require charge; after their first evaluation they may move into a "nurse 2" position which WILL require charge. Your job description is your guide. If it says you can be asked to do charge, suck it up and do charge.

Workitinurfava, BSN, RN · Jan 31, 2017

Make sure to ask if you are eligible for a pay increase.

jaycam, RN · Jan 31, 2017

I've charged once in my first month at my first job, but it was in my job description and I was warned it could happen. While it's not comfortable, I was given help and resources, and even a bit of training. We use a lot of LPNs and NAs, sometimes we only have one RN, or if we have two, one is per deim or agency. Know your resources, reach out for help. I had two NAs who had worked at the facility a long time and knew what the charge nurse needed from them, so they were prepared to help remind me of why I needed those things. They knew were I could find paperwork I needed. The house charge was there so that I could call them if I needed help. They want you to succeed at it.

caliotter3 · Jan 31, 2017

I was hired for night shift at a 52 bed facility. The only nurse on duty. I had just at one year of experience at another facility, but I sure wasn't in charge of that whole building by myself. Did I like it? Not really, but it was the only job I could get at the time after being "downsized". I didn't do anything differently at this job, than I had at the first job, except get nervous because I knew that I was "it". I left as soon as possible. Learn what you can while you look for another job. But don't be surprised if charge nurse duties come up again.

Davey Do · Jan 31, 2017

yourfuturern22 said:
Can I refuse charge nurse position, do I have a choice?